Portable sterilizing unit for hypodermic syringe and needle



Dec. 4, 1962 G. J. ENGLAND 3 PORABLE STERILIZING UNIT FOR HYPODERMIC SYRINGE AND NEEDLE Filed April 25, 1960 George J. England IN VEN TOR.

Mao/22:... BY m* EMER United States Patent Ofice 3,066,36l Fatented Dec. 4, 1952 3 066,?:61 PORTAELE STERIIEZHNG UNIT FOR HYPO- DERMIC SYRINGE AND NEEDLE George J. England, 316 S. Franklin St., Kirksville, Mo. Filed Apr. 26, 1960, Ser. No. 24,769 1 Claim. (Cl. 21-90) The present invention generally relates to a sterilizing unit and more particularly to a portable unit for sterilizing a hypodermic syringe and needle assembly so that a hypodermic syringe and needle may be easily transported or carried by a person requiring the use of such items.

Certain persons require the use of hypodermc syringes and needles for self-injection of medicaments and the like. When such persons travel, it is necessary that the hypodermic syringe and needle be taken with them for use when necessary. The hypodermic syringe and needle should be sterile When used and it is quite difficult to maintain sterilization during transportation. Therefore, it is the primary object of the present invention to provide a ortable sterilizing unit for hypodermic syringes and needles generally in the form of a container for holding a predetermined supply of sterilizing fluid together with a holder in the form of a cage for holding the disassembled needle, plunger barrel and plunger submerged within the sterilizing fluid with the cage also including a handle for elevating the components for removal thereof and assembly thereof without contaminating the Components.

Another object of the present inventior is to provide a sterilizing unit in accordance with the preceding objects which is impervious to any Chemical action of the alcohol or other liquid sterilizing agent employed with the entire assembly being constructed of material rendering it substantially unbreakable and shock resistant thereby enabling the sterilizing unit to be transported in suitcases, travelling bags, shaving kits and the like.

A further important object of the present invention is to provide a sterilizing unit which is simple in Construction, easy to use, dependable, long lasting, well adapted 'for its specific purposes and generally inexpensive to manufacture.

These together with other objects and advantages which Will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of Construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE l is a perspective view of the sterilizing unit of the present invention;

`PICTURE 2 is a perspective view of the elevating cage employed within the container;

FIGURE 3 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially upon a longitudinal plane extendng along the center line of the sterilizing unit; and

FIGURE 4 is a transverse, plan sectional view taken substantially upon a plane passing along section line 4-4 of FIGURE 3 illustrating the relationship of the components of the elevating cage to the container.

Referring now specifically to the drawings, the numeral 16 generally designates the sterilizing unit of the present invention which includes a generally cylindrical receptacle or container 12 having a removable screw threaded closure cap 14 engaging the upper end thereof. The closure cap 14 is provided with a sealing gasket 16 on the inner surface thereof for engaging the upper end of the receptacle 12 thus preventing leakage thereof. The closure cap 14 is screw threaded onto the container 12 and engages threads formed on the upper end thereof. The container 12 may be constructed of any suitable material such as glass, plastic, metal and the like and the closure cap 14 may be also constructed of any suitable material. The material of the cap must necessarily be impervious to attack from the sterilizing liquid.

Disposed within the container 12 is an elevating cage generally designated by the numeral 18 which generally is in the form of a U-shaped member having spaced parallel vertical legs 26 and 22 interconnected by a horizontal bight portion 26 which extends diametrically of the bottom of the container 12. Disposed transversely of and perpendicular to the bight portion 24 is a diametrically extending rod member 26 secured to the bight portion 24 as by welding 28 or any other suitable connection. With this construction, the lower end of the elevating cage 18 will 'be centrally disposed within the container 12 and this Construction also will guide the cage during elevational movement thereof.

The cage 18 is provided for supporting a plunger barrel 36, a plunger 32 and a needle 34. The plunger barrel 36 is supported in a pair of Vertically spaced and aligned rings 36 and 38 that are rigidly secured to the leg 26. The plunger barrel 38 is supported from the upper ring 36 by virtue of laterally extending anges or lugs 40 formed on the plunger barrel 36, thus enabling the lugs 46 to be grasped by the thumb and forefinger for holding the plunger barrel while maintainirg it in sterile condition.

The plunger 32 is supported by a pair of rings 42 and 44 which are vertically spaced and aligned and which are rigidly alfixed to the rings 36 and 38 respectively as 'by welding 46 and also rigidly fixed to the vertical leg 22. The plunger is Suspended from the top ring 42 by virtue of the flange at the upper end of the plunger whereby the plunger will bang onthe ring 42.

The needle 34 is supported from a needle holder in the form of a sleeve 48 which includes upwardly projecting diametrically opposed legs 56 having inwardly extending prongs or projections 52 at the upper end thereof tor grippingly engaging the needle 34. This is a clip type needle holder which is tubular and is similar to the protective holder in which hypodermic needles are normally provided When they are purchased. The needle holder is afiixed to the upper rings 42 and 36 by any suitable means as illustrated in FIGURE 4 thus orientating the rings and needle holder in a close cluster as illustrated in FIGURE 4.

The leg 22 is elongated in relation to the leg 26 and terminates adjacent the upper end of the container 12 thus enabling the upper end of the leg 22 to be grasped so that the entire elevator cage 13 may -be elevated for providing access to the plunger barrel 36, plunger 32 and needle 34. When the Components are within the cage and it is lowered, the Components will be submerged below the sterilizing liquid for sterilization thereof.

In operation, the plunger, plunger barrel and needle of the hy-podermic syringe are deposited into their respective holders in the assembled elevator cage and then the elevator cage is lowered into the container which has been filled to the proper level with the sterilizing fluid. After a proper length of time for sterilization to take place, the elevator may be raised a suficient height so that the flange top of the plunger may be picked up by the tips of the thumb and index finger and the plunger thus inserted into the plunger barrel of the syringe as it remains in place in the elevator cage. Then, the plunger is compressed or moved into the barrel to expel the sterilizing fiuid therein. The combined barrel and plunger may then be removed from the barrel holder by the thumb and index finger and the 'barrel plunger is inserted into the hole and shank of the needle and by a slight twist and downward pressure being given to the needle while in the holder, the needle is joined to the barrel plunger and may be withdrawn from its holder thereby assembling the plunger barrel, plunger and needle in ane complete unit ready for use. After its use, the syringe may be dsassembled and placed back into its respective holding rings and' needle holder in the elevating :age with the cage then being dropped back into the sterilizng fluid container whereby sterilization once again will start So that the Components will be sterile for subsequent use.

The device is preferably constructed of plastic material for the Shock resistant qualities and the low cost of construction. This renders the device especially suited to portability and convenient sterilization of a hypodermic syringe and needle so that such units may be readily available to persons requiring them.

As an alternative structure, the elevator cage could be constructed of upper and lower circular disks with holes to accommodate the Components of the syringe and needle. However, With the rod-like cage illustrated, the unit can be withdrawn and replaced from the container with aminimum amount of care with regard to spilling of the sterilizing fluid and the like.

In certain instances, wider upright members 20 and 22 may be employed and due to the guiding relationship between the wider vertical uprights 20 and 22 and the :ontanen the transverse member 26 may be eliminated. [n fact, the bottom portion or bight 24 of the U-shaped member could also be dispensed with since the vertical uprights ,20 and 22 may be connected rigidly in relation to each other by the ring members which support the :omponents of the syringe.

The rings 36 and 38, 42 and 44 may be attached to each other in a manner other than rigid and may be of :ontinuous one-piece Construction rather than of the Nelded construction as specifically described. In fact, ane set of rings may not even be connected together at ill if desired thus permitting variation in the vertical positions of the rings in relation to each other.

Other types of finger arrangements maybe employed or holding the needle may be of either metal or plastic :onstruction and may have two, four or more fingers or holding the needle. Further, the container may be Jf any suitable 'material including unbreakable material, glass, plastic or any other suitable material. Due to the hock resistance Construction of the cage for holding ;he disasscmbled syringe and the needle, it is found that :ven with the container -being constructed of glass, the :omponents supported within the holder are protected ?rom ordinary transportation shocks.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the ninciples of the invention. Further, since numerous nodification and changes will readily occur to those ;killed in the art, it is not desired to limit the nvention o the exact Construction and operation shown and decribed, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and' :quivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope f the invention as claimed. V

What is claimed as new is as follows:

A sterilizing unit for a dsassembled hypod'ermic tyringe and needle including a plunger, a plunger 'barrel :nd a needle, said unit comprisng a container, a removble closure for the contaner for scaling a quantity of sterilizing fluid within the container, a supporting cage disposed within the container for movement from a position completely received within the container to a position exteriorly thereof, said cage including means.

removably supporting a plunger barrel, means removably supporting a plunger along'side but spaced' from the plunger barrel and means removably supporting a needle alongside but spaced from the plunger barrel and plunger, said cage being substantially U-shaped in configuration With the bight portion of the U-shaped cage extending diametrically of the bottom of the container and the legs of the U-shaped cage extending vertically upwardly towards the upper end of the container, said container having an open upper end with the closure thereon, one leg of said U-shaped cage extending above the other and terminating at the upper end of the container for providing a handle for lifting the cage thereby elevating .the cage and the needle, plunger barrel and plunger for enabling access to be had to the plunger, plunger 'barrel and needle without extending the fingers into the sterilizing fluid', said bight portion having a transverse rod rigidly Secured thereto and disposed in perpendicular relation thereto whereby the bight portion and the transverse rod extend diametrically across the bottom of the container for guiding the cage during vertical movement thereof so that the cage will not splash or otherwise excessively displace the sterilizing fluid and for stabilizing the cage in upright condition when placed on a supporting surface, said means for holding the plunger barrel including a pair of vertically spaced and aligned rings rigid with the cage and adapted to receive the plunger barrel with the upper of the rings engaging lateral -projections on the upper end of the plunger barrel thereby suspending the plunger barrel from the upper ring with the lower ring forming a guide for the lower end of the plunger barrel, said means for supporting' the plunger including a pair of vertically spaced and aligned rings rigid with the cage With the upper ring adapted to be engaged by lateral projecting means on the plunger thereby suspending the plunger from the upper ring with the lower ring forming a guide therefor, said means for holding a needle including a tubular sleeve, a pair of upwardly ektending fingers at diametrically opposed points on said sleeve, each of the fingers terminating at its upper end in inwardly extending lugs for cngagement with a needle 'and resiliently gripping a needle, said sleeve being rigid with the means for holding the plunger and the means for holding the plunger barrel, said tubular sleeve being connected with the upper rings of the pairs of rings with the rings being rigidly connected with each other, said container, closure and cage being constructed of unbreakable material thereby facilitating portability of the sterilization unit for use by persons requiring a hypodermic syringe and needle while traveling.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,346,725 Butzke Apr. 18, 1944- 2,417,626 Blocher Mar. 18, 1947 2,523,877 Pestolesi Sept. 26, 1950 2,929,117 Kosswig Mar. 22, 1960 

